Dr Hook

Set lines at 5 AM in 90 fow and worked the water north of the channel for a change. Best marks were 95-115 but had sporadic marks all the way out to 180. Trolled out to 210 fow before trolling back in and calling it quits. Temperature seems pretty uniform all over but when probe was about 80 down ran into slight break with temp dropping from 48 to 46 just beyond 120 fow. Finished the day 0/3 with most hits coming on N or NW troll 2.6-2.9 at the ball. First hit came in 95 fow with Dreamweaver Alygator on 7 color. Backing snapped on the first run losing core, board, lure and fish. Next hit came on downrigger 50 down with Warrior Lemondrop and was gone by the time anyone got to the rod. Last hit came on braid dipsey set to 3 with UV Spindoctor and Big Weenie Last Brunch fly 150 back.

Also went out with WMFL, nice to see so many boats, and thanks to Big Weenie and Lakeshore Outfitters for sponsoring the event. Set up in 90 fow just north of sliders and started on SW troll. Took a king in 115 fow at about 8:30 on 225 copper with Silver Streak SOG. Finally took a steelie on 5 color with gold double orange crush in 180 fow.

Slow fishing out of Holland again today, but was nice to have the lake all to myself for a bit. Left the channel just before a freighter came through on a southwest course and set lines in 110 fow trolling out to 230 fow and back over the course of the morning. Best marks in 120 - 140 fow but couldn't get anything to go. had 3 hits from 190 - 210. 5 color with gold double orange crush took first hit but couldn't keep it on, fish buried the board and took it into dipsey on opposite side of the boat before it got off, but the tangle wasn't too bad. Rigger 120 feet down with metallic green/glow spindoctor and Big Weenie proctologist took a 12 lb laker. Final hit came on 225 copper with Silver Streak SOG took a spunky steelie. Hits came on due East-West troll, 2.9 at the ball. Water temps were pretty uniform all over 60-62 surface, 50 deg 75 feet down, 46 deg 100 feet down and 40 deg 100 feet down

Either day is fine with me

Sign me up

Sorry about the slightly late post, but having a bit of chaos in the house with stepdaughter getting married today. Left the house yesterday and went fishing with family in from Washington and Oregon to avoid the chaos. This morning the chaos left the house and moved on to the venue so have a chance to post. Started setting lines in 90 fow on WSW troll due to heavy chop from the east. Had first hit in 120 fow on braid dipsey 150 back set on 3 with my favorite UV Spindoctor/Big Weenie Last Brunch fly but it was off as quickly as it was on at about 6 AM. Trolled between 100 and 160 for the next few hours with nothing until rigger 65 down took a laker on Warrior Lemondrop again around 120 fow. Took another short rip on opposite side dipsey 180 back again in 120 fow with flasher fly. Last hit was coho on 7 color with SuperSlim gold double orange crush in 130 fow. the few people that I talked too that did even moderately well seemed to get a hit on different rods but nothing went twice. Best marks of the season so far but just didn't bite. Laker hit came on a turn into the waves that slowed us down but most hits were 2.3 or 2.4 at the ball. Surface temps generally 56 all over, 53 on rigger 75 down, and finally dropped to 46 degrees running 100 feet down.

Fishing still slow but what a difference a day makes. Today started a little earlier, a little farther south, a little deeper water and a little shallower lines. Set lines in 120 fow and had first fish in the boat after only 3 lines set. 9 lb king on dipsey 75 back with UV Spindoctor and Big Weenie Last Brunch. Shortly after that rigger went 50 down with Moonshine that had purple ends and ladder back. Lost the 3rd fish on dipsey 90 back with Wrapped Laser Lightsaver spindoctor and Big Weenie Bushy Beaver. Finally got all lines in and things slowed down a bit. Still in 120-ish fow took a small laker on the dipsey with the Last Brunch 100 back. All hits so far came on N-S troll with speed at ball 3.0 -3.4. Would have put out bags with current that strong to slow down some but things were working ok so decided not to. Started trolling west to deeper water and in 130 fow pulled up small king on the rigger with the Moonshine 60 down. Finished catching on west troll in 160 fow with laker on 150 copper with Silver Streak SOG. Trolled out to 200 and back, and worked 120 - 140 fow but got nothing more to go.

Perhaps you could compile a list for me. Can't seem to give em away at the cleaning station. Don't really like em but wind up eating em because I don't want to waste the resource.

I've been sitting here for an hour, trying to figure out if I would have traded boxes with you yesterday if for some reason you'd lost your mind. It pains me to say it that I probably would have done so. But, I'd rather finish 25th with 1 small laker and a couple good kings, than finish 11th and out of the money with a box of 15 lakers to clean and deal with after. Hmmm, maybe next year have 2 divisions: no cull and cull all lakers. Don't really mind catching em as long as I can throw em back.

True enough. Though rumor has it the winning box was full of silver fish. Congrats to Nick and Reel Talk.

Fished the Holland Steelheaders tournament this morning. Didn't do so well at 5 for 7, but also didn't have a box full of grease. Began setting lines in 90 fow, with first hit almost as soon as the line was set. King on dipsey set at 3 120 back with UV/UV Spindoctor and Big Weenie Last Brunch Fly. Next hit came on dipsey on opposite side of the boat with same settings but bearing a Wrapped Laser Lightsaver spindoctor and Big Weenie Bushy Beaver fly. Also a king in 105 fow. Lost another king at back of boat in 115 fow on 225 copper with dark green and copper spoon while trying to untangle the 5 color it had gotten into. Sorry I can't come up with name of spoon but can't find it on websites and camera too full to take anymore pictures. Trolled out to 125 with no takers, so trolled back and forth from 90 -110 fow the rest of the day. Once the rains stopped, kings seemed to stop as well. Picked up a coho on 7 color with Silver Streak Metallic Purple tail spoon, a laker on the dipsey with the Bushy Beaver, and a steelhead on 5 color with Moonshine RV Blue Flounder Pounder. Lost a 3rd hit on the Bushy Beaver. All hits came trolling 2.4 at the ball except for the laker which hit when speed dropped to 1.8 at ball. Had equal hits trolling both north and south.

Turning is also another way to tell if you are going into the current. The more you turn into the current the faster your down speed. As you turn out of the current your speed will drop. Typically its not more than a few tenths, and if there's not much current sometimes its difficult to tell

With current its not so much the speed or speed separation as whether you are trolling into the current or not. Usually its better to troll into the current but when you have to troll with the current you may have to speed up to get the right action on your lures. Actual speed at the ball you may need to vary a little until you get bit.

They'll be here soon enough

at least you didn't suggest a Pacific Northwest 1 Rod Share the Misery tournament.

Depends on what your willing to pay. If money is no object I'd go with Steiner marine or maybe look at image stabilized binoculars. In any case your going to want a wide field of vision, say 40-50 mm.

Right handed has more to do with coordination than strength. The finer the action the easier it is to do with the right hand. Since its used more it gets just a little bit stronger, not the other way around.

Yep, check out the web cam the day before and see what happens with the wind

Oops, forgot. Mid-size.

Never used it (I have my own padding) but I have it on my boat. Women seem to like it